The Zoologist — April, 18G7. 665 



It is noticeable that when any of the diving-ducks are winged or 

 wounded they generally make for the open water, . where they 

 endeavour to escape by diving or swimming away, whereas if a duck 

 which does not excel in diving be wounded it will, as a rule, make for 

 the shore, and, as Shakespeare tells us, " creep into hedges." 



Fahtaff. "There's no more valour in that Poins than in a wild duck." 



Henri/ IV., Part I., Act ii. Scene 2. 



As a rule, the wild duck is not easily approached, and takes wing on 

 the least alarm, never facing a danger and fighting as some birds will 

 do in defeuce of their young or when wounded. A remarkable instance, 

 however, of fearlessness and affection in a wild duck recently came 

 under our observation. A sportsman, returning home late one evening, 

 surprised a pair of ducks in an old gravel-pit, now half full of water. 

 As they rose he killed the duck with the only charge he had left, 

 A dropping her in the middle of the water. Before he could get her 

 out, he observed that the drake, which had flown to a considerable 

 distance, finding himself alone, returned to the spot, and notwithstand- 

 ing that his enemy was still moving on the bank, after making one or 

 two circles in the air, alighted on the water close to the dead body of 

 his mate. Swimming round and round her, from time to time he 

 uttered a mournful note, and appeared very unwilling to leave the spot. 

 Instead of pitying the distress of the poor mallard, and regretting the 

 loss he had occasioned him, the sportsman, we are sorry to add, 

 hastened home, the distance of nearly a mile, and, procuring some more 

 powder and shot, returned and killed the faithful bird, which still 

 remained upon the water near its mate. We saw the pair shortly 

 afterwards ; they were the pintail duck, in remarkably good plumage. 

 ('The Birds of Middlesex,' p. 226). 



All ducks are very cleanly in their habits, and take a great pleasure 

 in dressing their feathers after feeding, and it would be difficult to find 

 a more conceited-looking bird than a wild duck. 



Falstaff, however, speaking of Poins, says : 



" There is no more conceit in him than is in a mallet." 



Henry IV., Pari I., Act ii. Scene 4. 



Thereby implying that the "mallet," that is, the mallard or wild 

 drake, has no conceit in him. 



* % * « Antony 

 Claps on his sea wing, and like a doting mallard, 

 Leaving the fight in height, Hies after it." 



Anion i/ and Cleopatra. 

 SECOND SERIES — VOL. II. T 



